Vision and Learning - Hardcover

by Heike Schuhmacher (Author)

Does your child struggle with reading and writing and cannot keep up in school? The school psychologist has attested to normal intelligence and visual tests confirm perfect eyesight? Nonetheless, your childs learning disability can be caused by undetected problems with visual functions and information processing. These disorders can not be diagnosed by routine visual acuity tests, yet have devastating effects on a child s academic performance. Affected children face barriers in concentration, reading and spelling that limit their educational opportunities. They have difficulty focusing, their information processing speed is too slow, their brain is unable to adequately process visual or auditory perceptions. What are the underlying causes? What are the indicators to be aware of? And most importantly, what can you do to help your child A comprehensive analysis of visual brain functions is an essential first step. The good news is that vision is an acquired brain function, With Optometric Vision Therapy, children can train their visual functions, improve their ability to focus, their speed in reading and comprehension and their ability to "scan in" spelling details. This book provides an accessible framework for parents, educators, and therapists and: informs about the brain functions and connections between vision and learning; explores the neurophysiological processes underlying our visual and auditory functions, the meaning behind terms like "visual information processing" and "auditory information processing," and the impact they have on our cognition, intelligence, concentration and overall ability to learn; explains the typical symptoms of disorders of visual and auditory functions and processing, and why children with these conditions need therapy; describes how such disorders can be diagnosed; outlines why and how Optometric Vision Therapy works; provides information about special needs and the necessary support and assistance in school

Author Biography

Heike Schuhmacher, MD, is a certified primary care and family physician, sub- specializing in pediatric developmental disorders. Her private practice offers children with learning, perceptual, and concentration disorders comprehen- sive diagnosis of underlying neurophysiological and neuropsychological brain functions and an extensive range of individual therapies with emphasis on Optometric Vision Therapy. Dr. Schuhmacher holds a diploma as certified orthoptist from the German Ophthalmological Society. In her thesis for her medical doctorate at Ruprecht Karls University in Heidelberg she focused on diagnostics and therapy of visual perceptual disorders in children diagnosed with dyslexia. Her research on this subject was based on a four-year collaboration between Dr. Schuhmacher and Professor Kraus-Mackiw, neuro-ophthalmology department of the uni- versity eye hospital with Heidelberg elementary schools and the university's child psychiatry hospital. Dr. Schuhmacher worked for many years as a consul- tant school physician before establishing her own private practice. She still advises educators on perceptual aspects of specific learning disabilities, consults on Individualized Education Programs (IEP), and develops both design and implementation of special classroom accommodations for children with perceptual disabilities. Through her lectures and seminars she contributes to the continuing education of educators, special needs teachers, therapists, pediatricians, child psychologists, and child psychiatrists. Dr. Schuhmacher also specializes in developmental optometry and in 2010 was appointed Fellow of the American College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), the first German physician to receive this honor. More information about Dr. Schuhmacher and her practice can be found at: www.dr-schuhmacher.de and at the website for her book: www.fehlermussmansehen.de.